Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-09
FOUND WATERY GRAVES.
One OF the Most Disastrous Wrecks
That Ever Occurred on the
Virginia Coast Reported.
The German steamer Elizabeth Lost with
All on Board-Twenty Lives ana
Probably More Lost.

WASHINGTON, Jan. The signal corps
station at Cape Henry, Va, reports that
the German ship Elizabeth of Bremen
went ashore at . a. m. to-day twenty
four miles south of Cape Henry. The
crew were lost also the captain and two
men of the Little Island life-savine
station and two men of the Dam Neck,
Va life-savng crew, who were drowned
while attempting to rescue the ships
crew.
THE PARTICULARS.
NORFOLK, Va, Jan S.-One of the most
disastrous shpwreCkS which ever &C.
cured on the Virginia coast happened at
2 O'Clock this morning near Little Island
| lffe-saving station fourteen miles south Of
Cape Henry. Not less than twenty, and
probably more lives were lost, among
them five life-saving men, who in
the discharge of their duty were
drowned. The morning was bitterly
cold aud binding snow-storm prevailed
with the wind blowing gale from the
northeast. During lull in the
storm the Ife-saying patrol from
the Little Island Life-Saving
station sighted large ship stranded on
the bar about 500 yards from the shore.
When he saw the vessel he was going to
meet the patrol from Dam Neck station
and exchange checks showing that
both patrolmen had been to the end of
their beat. The Dam Neck patrol was
only a few yards distant when the
vessel was sighted and both fired
rockets to notify the crew of
the stranded ships that she had been
seen. They hurried back to their re-
spective stations and gave the alarm. In
little while both crews with
| life boats ard apparatus were
abreast of the wreck and the boom
of the mortar announced that lire had
been shot Out to the Inflated vessel. The
shot was unsuccessful and sec
oud was fired with like result.
After hiring six unsuccessful shots
the lite-Saving men determ
to brave the furious sea and death which
seemed certain to await their adventure.
The word Of command being given by
Capt Belsnza Of Life-S4ving Sta
tim No. 4, known as the Little
Island, Sin of the most expert
boaJmen manned each boat. AT his com
mand men gave way with will and
and in g moment both boats were breast
ing the furious waves. They reached the
ship in safety and five of the ships crew
were taken in one life-boat and
ten il the ships boat, which
was launched fer the purpose. The
boats headed for the shore and not a
word was spoken, for each man realized
the awful peril which surrounded
them. With steady pull, the boats
were making good Roadway for the shore
when wave of great power struck both
boats capsiziug them instantly, and
pitching their twenty-five ocCu-
pants into the boiling sea. Then
began desperate struggle for life, and
vita many of the men ii was prolonged
one. The Mortified life savers on the
beach were pOWerless to assist their
drowning comrades or the unfortunate
strangers. The drowning men were car
ried southwark by the seas, and some OF
them were washed ashore. As they came
within reach they were picked up and
endeavors We're made to revive them,
AMI in two instances with sue
cess, although one of the two
is badly injured. The vessel is the Ger
man snip Elizabeth, Capt. Halherstadf,
from Hamburg to Baltimore, and
not one of her crew survives her
wreck Her cargo is unk1Ow'
as the high seas thus far have prevented
any attempt TO leach her. IL is thought
she is leaking badly. end at sunset her
masts were thought Ia be giving way. OF
the life-s&ying crew the following were
lost:
ABEI. BELANzA, C1pt. of No. I, known
as Little Island.
j. W. LAND, same station.
GEORGE ". STONE, same.
j. A BELANZA of Dam Neck station,
and brother OF Abel.
JOsFpH PRATLEY OF Dam Neck.
john ETHr RIDGE and
FRANK LETFORD of No. station were
washed ashore and resuscitated, but
E.beridge is so badly injured that it is
thought he cannot survive.